For most of America, “The Day The Music Died”  – when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP “The Big Bopper” Richardson tragically died in a plane crash – is commemorated in the famous Don McLean song, American Pie. Many music fans are too young now to remember the tragedy itself, but if you’re a historian or musician who grew up in Iowa, you can make the pilgrimage to the sacred site of the crash to pay tribute to the musical legends themselves.

The three world-famous musicians played their last show on February 2, 1959, at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. This iconic venue will forever be tied to the historic tragedy.
Flickr / jpellgen
Shortly after takeoff, on the way to the next tour stop in Minnesota, the small plane carrying Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson went down in darkness due to weather.
Flickr / Dennis Carr
Today, a memorial sits at the crash site near Gull Road in Clear Lake. Though it's hard to find, if you keep an eye out, you'll see a guitar and a big replica of Holly's iconic glasses leading the way.
Flickr / Photolibrarian

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It's hard to imagine a more peaceful resting place. This gorgeous cornfield site has been maintained by music fans throughout the years.
Google Local / Edward Fink
Tributes to Holly, Valens, and the Big Bopper are always changing, but the cut steel guitars and records have been here for years.
Flickr / Joseph Centeno
The young pilot, Roger Peterson, was just 21 years old when the plane went down. A set of metal wings sits here as a memorial to his life, too.
Flickr / photolibrarian
Buddy Holly was one of rock and roll's first true stars, and though his life was cut tragically short, the roadside memorial at the plane crash site helps carry on his legacy and legend.
Flickr / Dennis Carr

You can learn more about the Buddy Holly plane crash itself, and listen to the early morning radio broadcasts that broke the news to the world, right here.

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